Last week I was on Ceftin and had an allergic reaction with itching and rash so I had to stop it...I stopped Friday then Saturday I started having a phantom smell of cigarette smoke...
I am having a heck of a time with this phantom smell..the cigarette smoke smell is so strong! It's awful!!
I have neuro Lyme...I have tried to smell coffee grounds to clear the smell away but it did not last!
Has anyone gone through this? Is there anything I can do? Please tell it goes away!
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
Yes, I had this for several months before being diagnosed. I had the cigarette smell too.
I never figured out what caused it, especially since it went away bofre diagnosis or treatement.
I went so far as to slather Vicks Vaporub on my nose to cover the smell up. Then I'd smell Vicks and smoke--not good.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I smelled a dead rat for over a year! I would light candles, pour pinesol into all my sinks, etc. After about a year of treatment, it went away.
Posted by Rambler (Member # 18794) on :
I read that die off and those neurotoxins being released cause the super-human sense of smell. It comes and goes for me too. No phantom odors, though, I don't think.
Posted by Wimenin (Member # 15294) on :
Yes. Coffee grounds can help, but one of the best methods I learned of was midfulness. Basically you observe the smell/sensation, and then let it go. Dont dwell on it or ignore it. Simply recognize it as your brain healing, and move on. Trying to stop it, or mentally stop it may only add credence in your thought process so that over time it can become an anxiety trigger.
Posted by bystander (Member # 11893) on :
Wimenin - Coffee grounds? Raw/cooked/does it matter? I'm assuming you smell them. Does this work on all phantom smells, or is the coffee just for the cigarettes?
Posted by Judy G. (Member # 18498) on :
I don't have phantom smells, I think, but I sure have an intense sense of smell these days.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
wow, some days i swore i smelled garlic...then some days it was like a dead rat, whew....
could be my sinuses, don't know.
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
Here's an alternative view -- dying or diseased tissue somewhere in the ENT tract. It took me a while to realize that the mycoplasma pneumonia infection was causing the ``funky'' phantom smells during the early stages of my disease.
I saw a ``prominent'' ENT doc at Lahey in 2004 & in 2005 with very specific questions about this phantom smell. I asked, ``How about this? How about a blood test?! I had surgery (with intubation) x months ago, shouldn't I be tested? Isn't this strange?!
``No.''
``Huh? Why not?''
``...it's not indicated..as well as any additional tests."
``But why do I smell a dead animal at different times of the day and night?''
(Shoulder shrug. The kind of shrug that says the patient is crazy, at the same time saying I really can't help you.)
My health deterioration was long, terrible and beyond description. I became disabled physically and cognitively. All because these esteemed Lahey doctors said that further testing was not indicated. Almost two years later, when I was bed-ridden, I was tested again at Lahey and found to be "high positive" for mycoplasma pneumonia - the original insult that nearly killed me.
The sinuses are a great place to hang out if you are any kind of bug. That said, I doubt everyone has this weird symptom that I had, but it may be something to consider. Think of all the sites in the sinus, throat and various cavities that contain perfect, wet surface for bugs. If the immune system is compromised, then there are a zillion MORE places these bugs can hide.
And they do.
[ 08-20-2009, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: Cold Feet ]
Posted by btrflynana (Member # 21117) on :
I am so grateful for all the replies here! Gosh you guys are great! Thank you...I will be seeing my LLMD tomorrow I will let you all know the feedback I get...
As of today...cigarette odor still prominent! Hubby and I went to Bath & Body Works store and bought vanilla plug-ins...every once in a while I will smell them but the cigarette odor is there...
I do like the idea of recognizing, observing, accepting as all as part of the healing process!
Today I did start to not let it irritate me too much...it has been about 8 years since I smoked ...not too long ago I was so frustrated with being ill and contemplated having a cigarette...LOL this certainly has cured that thought totally!!! LOL Posted by Sparrow (Member # 11734) on :
Phantom smells can also happen before seizures. My duaghter experienced them before her pseudo seizures. Thankfully the pseudo seizures have stopped, but she still experiences the phantom smells.
Diffusing essential oils would be benificial because they actually can kill viruses,bacteria,& fungus. So smelling them is a way to aid in the killing of tbd's which are probably causing your phantom smells.
Posted by Elaine G (Member # 20735) on :
Try steaming water with a tablespoon of sea salt and a chamomile tea bag. It will kill the germs in the sinus and may help the smells.
Boil the water, sea salt and tea bag. Put a towel over your nose or face and inhale for 7-10 minutes.
Good way to kill the germs from colds and flus.
Posted by btrflynana (Member # 21117) on :
Well my LLMD has decided to go back to using and increasing the dosages of Zithro and Doxy and is adding Tindamax...and increased the Neurontin to 300mg 3x day to calm the neuropothy issues.
I also had blood work for...Chlamydia Pneumonia IgG M and A and Mycoplasma Pneumonia IgG and M
also I have been taken off ALL dairy to see if it helps my digestive system.
Elaine thank you for the recipe I am going to try it...yesterday and today the phantom smoke smell is pretty much gone...I think upping the Neurontin some how has helped as my pain level had really diminished pretty much!
Once again a huge Thank You to all of you for your kind replies and advice!
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